Product promotion methods and associated systems

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a product promotion method. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a product promotion system. In one specific example, the present invention provides a product promotion method, comprising: selecting at least one winning prize for the product promotion; selecting a time period over which the product promotion will be run; selecting a number of prize-winning items that are sold in a store; and providing at least a portion of the winning prize to a person who purchases from the store, during the time period over which the product promotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winning items.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/665,493, filed Mar. 23, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/754,434 filed on May 29, 2007, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a product promotionmethod.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a productpromotion system.

In one specific example, the present invention provides a productpromotion method, comprising: selecting at least one winning prize forthe product promotion; selecting a time period over which the productpromotion will be run; selecting a number of prize-winning items thatare sold in a store; and providing at least a portion of the winningprize to a person who purchases from the store, during the time periodover which the product promotion will be run, all of the selectedprize-winning items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various lottery and promotion systems and methods have been proposed.Examples include what is described in the disclosures of the followingpatent application publication and patents:

United States Patent Application Publication 2006/0189372, in the nameof Westrup et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,016,861, in the name of Mothwurf;U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,268, in the name of Humble; U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,991,in the name of Small; U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,129, in the name of VonKohorn; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,714, in the name of Golightly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention directed to aproduct promotion method;

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention directed to acomputer implemented product promotion method; and

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the present invention directed to acomputer system for product promotion.

Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, otherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures. The figures constitute a part of this specification and includeillustrative embodiments of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments aremerely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in variousforms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with thevarious embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative,and not restrictive. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale,some features may be exaggerated to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present inventiondirected to a product promotion method is provided. As seen in this FIG.1, the method may comprise: selecting at least one winning prize for theproduct promotion (Step 101); selecting a time period over which theproduct promotion will be run (Step 103); selecting a number ofprize-winning items that are sold in a store (Step 105); and providingat least a portion of the winning prize to a person who purchases fromthe store, during the time period over which the product promotion willbe run, all of the selected prize-winning items (Step 107). Step 107 maycomprise the end of the product promotion, such that the act of thepurchaser purchasing all of the selected items constitutes the winningevent, with no further lottery, drawing or the like taking place orbeing required. Of course, the steps may be carried out in the orderrecited above or the steps may be carried out in any other desiredorder. Further, the store may be a single retail outlet or multipleretail outlets of the same chain.

In one example, the entire winning prize may be provided to the firstperson who purchases from the store, during the time period over whichthe product promotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winningitems (this may be accomplished, for example, by a given purchaser overa number of different shopping events or checkouts).

In another example, the entire winning prize may be provided to thefirst person who purchases from the store, all at one time (that is,during a single shopping event or checkout), all of the selectedprize-winning items.

In another example, one or more people may share the prize (wherein theprize may be divided evenly or unevenly among the winner(s)). In onespecific example, the a first winner may get the largest share of theprize, a second winner (that is, a purchaser who makes the requiredpurchases, but after the first winner has done so) may get a smallershare of the prize and a third winner (that is, a purchaser who makesthe required purchases, but after the first winner and the second winnerhave done so) may get an even smaller share of the prize.

In another example, the winning prize may be provided by an underwritingentity. In one specific example, the underwriting entity may be distinctfrom an entity that owns the store. In another specific example, theunderwriting entity may be an insurance company.

In another example, the winning prize may be between $1,000 and$1,000,000.

In another example, the time period over which the product promotionwill be run may be between one week and one year.

In another example, the number of prize-winning items selected may bebetween 3 and 10.

In another example, the store may be a retail store.

In another example, the store may be an online store.

In another example, the underwriting entity may select the prize-winningitems. In one specific example, the underwriting entity may randomlyselect the prize-winning the items. In another example, each of theprize winning items may have a similar chance of being purchased.

In another example, the underwriting entity may select the time periodover which the product promotion will be run.

In another example, the store may select the prize-winning items. In onespecific example, the store may randomly select the prize-winning theitems.

In another example, the store may select the time period over which theproduct promotion will be run.

In another example, a promotion entity distinct from the store mayselect the prize-winning items (such a promotion entity may be paid, forexample, by the store and or one or more product brands and may act asan intermediary between the store and the underwriting entity). In onespecific example, the promotion entity may randomly select theprize-winning the items. In another example, each of the prize winningitems may have a similar chance of being purchased.

In another example, a promotion entity distinct from the store mayselect the time period over which the product promotion will be run.

In another example, each of the selected prize-winning items may beidentified by a distinct SKU number.

In another example, each of the selected prize-winning items may beidentified by a distinct UPC code.

In another example, each of the selected prize-winning items may beidentified by a distinct SKU number or a distinct UPC code.

In another example, each of the selected prize-winning items may be aspecific product and brand and size.

In another example, each of the selected prize-winning items may be aspecific product and brand (regardless of size).

In another example, each of the selected prize-winning items may be aspecific product (regardless of brand and size).

Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of the present inventiondirected to a computer implemented product promotion method is provided.As seen in this FIG. 2, the method may comprise: selecting a number ofitems that are sold in a store as prize-winning items (Step 201);identifying each of the items purchased by a purchaser (Step 203);comparing the items purchased by the purchaser to the selectedprize-winning items (Step 205); determining, based on the comparison,when the items purchased by the purchaser include all of the selectedprize-winning items (Step 207); and based on the determining step,providing at least a portion of the winning prize to a person whopurchases from the store, during the time period over which the productpromotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winning items (Step209). Step 209 may comprise the end of the product promotion, such thatthe act of the purchaser purchasing all of the selected itemsconstitutes the winning event, with no further lottery, drawing or thelike taking place or being required. Of course, the steps may be carriedout in the order recited above or the steps may be carried out in anyother desired order. Further, the store may be a single retail outlet ormultiple retail outlets of the same chain.

In one example, the entire winning prize may be provided to the firstperson who purchases from the store, during the time period over whichthe product promotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winningitems (this may be accomplished, for example, by a given purchaser overa number of different shopping events or checkouts).

In another example, the entire winning prize may be provided to thefirst person who purchases from the store, all at one time (that is,during a single shopping event or checkout), all of the selectedprize-winning items.

In another example, one or more people may share the prize (wherein theprize may be divided evenly or unevenly among the winner(s)). In onespecific example, the a first winner may get the largest share of theprize, a second winner (that is, a purchaser who makes the requiredpurchases, but after the first winner has done so) may get a smallershare of the prize and a third winner (that is, a purchaser who makesthe required purchases, but after the first winner and the second winnerhave done so) may get an even smaller share of the prize.

Referring now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the present inventiondirected to a computer system for product promotion is provided,comprising: database 301 containing data identifying a time period overwhich the product promotion will be run and data identifying each of anumber of items that are sold in a store that have been selected asprize-winning items; data entry mechanism 303 obtaining data identifyingeach of the items purchased by a purchaser at the store; comparator 305operatively connected to database 301 and data entry mechanism 303comparing the items purchased by the purchaser to the selectedprize-winning items; and output mechanism 307 operatively connected tocomparator 305, wherein output mechanism 307 indicates, based on thecomparison, when the items purchased by the purchaser at the storeinclude all of the selected prize-winning items. Further, the store maybe a single retail outlet or multiple retail outlets of the same chain.The indication may comprise the end of the product promotion, such thatthe act of the purchaser purchasing all of the selected itemsconstitutes the winning event, with no further lottery, drawing or thelike taking place or being required.

In one example, database 301 may comprise a local database (e.g.,integrated into a point-of-sale (“POS”) terminal).

In another example, database 301 may comprise a remote database (e.g., adatabase remote from a POS terminal and accessible via an intranetand/or the Internet).

In another example, data entry mechanism 303 may comprise a scanner(e.g., integrated into a POS terminal).

In another example, data entry mechanism 303 may comprise a keyboard formanual data entry (e.g., integrated into a POS terminal).

In another example, comparator 305 may comprise a CPU and associatedsoftware (e.g., integrated into a POS terminal).

In another example, output mechanism 307 may comprise a display, such asa CRT display, an LCD display, a plasma display, and/or a printer (oneor both of which may be integrated into a POS terminal).

In another example, there may be a “no purchase necessary” component(e.g., consumers could mail in (without making a purchase) a 3×5 cardlisting various SKU numbers and/or UPC codes—if the listing on the cardof the various SKU numbers and/or UPC codes matched the selectedprize-winning items then the consumer mailing in the card would win).

Reference will now be made to another specific example (this example is,of course, intended to be illustrative and not restrictive). Under thisspecific example, a retailer randomly selects items (e.g., 5 items) andasks consumers to purchase products for a product promotion or lottery.The prize-winning items of this example are: 20 oz Diet PEPSI, 20 packof CERTS mints, HOSTESS TWINKEES twinpack, 12 pack of GILETTE razorblades, and a gallon size WINDEX. The first consumer to purchase thisexact combination of products (e.g., in a single shopping trip orcheckout) wins $1,000,000. A capped amount of purchasable items may beput into the official rules (e.g., to be eligible to win the prize theconsumer can purchase a maximum of 50 items per shopping trip orcheckout). In one example, an underwriting entity (e.g., an insurancecompany) may specify the capped amount of purchasable items.

Of note, the embodiments described herein may, of course, be implementedusing any appropriate computer hardware and/or computer software. Inthis regard, those of ordinary skill in the art are well versed in thetype of computer hardware that may be used (e.g., a mainframe, amini-computer, a personal computer (“PC”), a network (e.g., an intranetand/or the Internet)), the type of computer programming techniques thatmay be used (e.g., object oriented programming), and the type ofcomputer programming languages that may be used (e.g., C++, Basic, AJAX,Javascript, ADOBE FLASH). The aforementioned examples are, of course,illustrative and not restrictive.

While a number of embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it is understood that these embodiments are illustrativeonly, and not restrictive, and that many modifications may becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, certainmethods may have been described herein as being “computer implementable”or “computer implemented”. In this regard, it is noted that while suchmethods can be implemented using a computer, the methods do notnecessarily have to be implemented using a computer. Also, to the extentthat such methods are implemented using a computer, not every step mustnecessarily be implemented using a computer. Further, any communicationcarried out between components may be carried out, for example, via anintranet and/or the Internet. Further still, the present invention maybe applied to the promotion of one or more services and/or the promotionof one or more products. Further still, the various steps may be carriedout in any desired order (and any desired steps may be added and/or anydesired steps may be eliminated).

What is claimed is:
 1. A product promotion method, comprising: selecting at least one winning prize for the product promotion; selecting a time period over which the product promotion will be run; selecting a number of prize-winning items that are sold in a store; and providing at least a portion of the winning prize to a person who purchases from the store, during the time period over which the product promotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winning items.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entire winning prize is provided to the first person who purchases from the store, during the time period over which the product promotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winning items.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the entire winning prize is provided to the first person who purchases from the store, all at one time, all of the selected prize-winning items.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the winning prize is provided by an underwriting entity.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the underwriting entity is distinct from an entity that owns the store.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the underwriting entity is an insurance company.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the winning prize is between $1,000 and $1,000,000.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period over which the product promotion will be run is between one week and one year.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of prize-winning items selected is between 3 and
 10. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the store is a retail store.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the store is an online store.
 12. The method of claim 4, wherein the underwriting entity selects the prize-winning items.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the underwriting entity randomly selects the prize-winning the items.
 14. The method of claim 4, wherein the underwriting entity selects the time period over which the product promotion will be run.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the store selects the prize-winning items.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the store randomly selects the prize-winning the items.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the store selects the time period over which the product promotion will be run.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein a promotion entity distinct from the store selects the prize-winning items.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the promotion entity randomly selects the prize-winning the items.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein a promotion entity distinct from the store selects the time period over which the product promotion will be run. 